Apparatus for retrieving fishing tackle or the like



F.. v. BRoADY 2,642,693

APPARATUS FR RETRIEVNG FISHING TACKLE OR THE LIKE June 23, 1953 Filed July `22', 1947 nPatented June 23, 1953 UNITED s'rArfas PAT Anu This invention relates to apparatus for retriev-A ing shing tackle, or the like, and a general object ofthe invention is to provide a simple, prac--k tical, durable construction, particularly useful in or as applied to fishing poles, or the like.y

. Fishing tackle such as poles and reels is often` nely constructed and isconsequently. valuable. Such equipment and other like apparatus used around bodies of water is subject to being accif dentallyV dropped into the deep Waterand consequently lost.

It is a general object of the present invention v' to provide a practicalimproved iloat or float n-y lating device applicable to a iishing pole, or the like, and serving to float such equipment upon its being dropped into the body of. water. .i

Another object of the invention is topro'vide asimple, dependable device that becomes ener-, gized upon being submerged in water but which is such that it may be submerged in shallow water and may get water on it from wet hands'for through normal use Without effect.

Anothernbject or the" invention is tn pivide.

apparatus of the general character referred t inA which the active elementsrequiring removal or replacement after use or from time totime are in a cartridge-like unit which is simple ,andy convenient to handle.

Another object of the inventionistoprovidea construction ofthe character mentioned, which issuch that it may be advantageouslyincorporated in the form of a handleior a device such asa fishing pole, or the like.

The varioust objects and featuresoi in venefk tionwill beffully understood rfrom the following detailed description of a typical preferred form andv application of the invention,r throughout Which description reference is'made to the-ac -I companying drawings, in whichz@ Fig. 1 shows a typical fishing DQle the handle' V of whichincorporates the structure of tliepresgy ent invention. Fig. 2 is a view showing thepol'e with the device of the present invention inflated.:

serving as a float maintaining thepolesuspended in a body of Water. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed by line 3-3 on Fig. 1 showing the As tructurefof the present invention, with the cartridge being shown in longitudinal elevation, rather thangin section. Fig. 4 is an enlargedlongitudinal-def.;

4`5` sectional View taken substantially as indicated;

tailed sectional View of thecartridgewhich, when..

in normal position, is within the structure asv shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detailed transverse; sectional view taken as indicated Vby ,line 5,-5

on Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed sectional Viewr illustrating the manner in which the car tridge is releasably retained in position within the tubulark body2IJ.k Fig. 7 is a view similar toi a portion of Fig. 4.showing, a soluble seal yat the inner end of the cartridge.

The structure ofthe present invention is showny applied tofshing tackle as this is a typical appli-,- cationin whichthe inventioncan be advantageously used. In theA particular case illustrated in the drawings I show a `fishing pole A with a reel seat B at its inner `end and with a handle C connectedvwith or projecting from the reel seat.

` In the particular case .illustrated the pole is shown equipped with line guides I3 and a tip I4 and the reel seat yB is shownWithan offset reel-carrying base I5 supporting a suitable reel I6. A bracket I'l projects from the base, I5 and carries` the handle C. i j- The handle C whichy embodies the structure provided by my invention includes anelongate tubular body or member .20 iixedat its inner end to the bracket II of the reel seat kas by@` suitableI retainer or fastener 2 I` of the body 20 is open and unrestricted as'shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

Qtherelements of the construction AVinclude a grip 22 applied to .the body 2i), a cartridge 23 inserted in the body20, releasable retaining means 24 normally releasably retaining the cartridge in the body, an inatable bag 0r balloon 25 attachedv to and normally conned within the cartridge,

algas generating charge 26 carriedin the cartridge and means 2l admitting or conducting Water tothe cartridge toactuate the chargeZI.

Thegrip 22 is providedon the exterior of the bodyl and preferably extends from one end of the body to the other, 'for ming Ia comfortable,

conveniently `shaped handle or ygrip by which the ftackle canbemanipulated. In practice the grip' may be formed of cork, sponge rubber, or other suitable material.

'Ihecartridge 23 .which is a unitary element, as shown in FigA, is adapted to `be inserted into the body 2l) Vfrom the open outer end of the body. 'I he cartridge' in its preferred form involves a tubular case 30, an inner Wall 3l located in the f ca se,fa removable closure 32 at the outer'end of thecase and other features as will be herein` after disclosed.` In the preferredforrn of the invention 4shown in the rdrawings the innerend portion 33 .of the` case 30 extending inwardly be'- yond the Wall 3I is provided With a plurality of openings or perforations 3IlV such as to yadmit water from the exterior of the cartridge to the lWall 3I`f The closure Y32 may be asimirle,y disc# The outer orrear end like part, frictionally enga-ged in the outer end of the case 30 to be removable from the case by pressure applied from within the case.

In the preferred construction shown in the drawings a tubular shell 40 is carried by and projects forwardly from the wall 3| and serves as a holder for the charge 26, and as a part to which the balloon 25 is attached. The shell 40 is shown fixed to the wall 3| tobe in communication with an opening 42 provided in the Wall 3 I' Y The bag or balloon 25 may be a rubber or, suitable balloon structure, preferably provided' with a neck 45 which fits overand,` is securedto. the projecting end portion of shell 40, thelshell having a reduced outer end portion forming. a channel 46 receiving the neck 45. In the preferred construction a reinforcingnet 41is.pro vided to surround the balloon 25 to restrain itas shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, which'net is normally confined within the cartridge and is attached vto the shell 40` preferably.. over thev neck 45;""In the" drawingsI have shown a suitablev tie member 4B securing the net. and-the neck portion of the balloon to 'the'shell The case 30 of the cartridge is preferably proportioned to slidably t into the body Zllandthe releasable retaining means v24'is preferably provided" at the outer'ope'n nd ofV the body. In the' case illustrated the means 24Ainvo1vesl a split. snap ring 50 carried in a recess "5l provided in a counterbore 52 in the 'outer endof'the body 20a The outer end of the case 30 is` provided with anfoutwardly projecting radial flange 60 that seatson theY bottom 62 vofthe counterbore. and the:`rin'g` 50Jis such'as to normally overlie vor overhang thev flange 60 and retain"the flange against the seat,'as shown inFig. 6.

The gas generating charge 26 is carried in the shell 40 'and' may be'retained or confined in the shell inany'suitable manner." In the'case illus? trated I havevshown the charge confined between a'screen 65`seated against the reduced portion of theshell and a disc or'valve 6'6 -at' the inner endl of the shellwhich valve normally closes'theopen;"` ing 42. In the particular" 'case' illustrated asecl ond or inner screen 6l is provided atth inner end of the Acharge anda compression spring'fG'Q acts between the screenBT and the'vvalv'estholding vthe valve tight against thewall 3| andthe charge tightly compact betweenthe screens.. AsA shown in the drawings the`valve'-may have a'V sealingvf'ace 69-of rubber, orthe'like'to engage'f the wall 3l around the opening 42.-Y

The parts just described'form aavalvle'whiczh opens to admit water tofcharge 23 atta Ipredeg- A termined pressure. Spring 7384 maybe of such strength as 'tornormally yieldingly Diessfthev va'lye'.` finto sealing engagement fwith the wall`3'l y predetermined Yhead of pressure' exertedfon the valve`66 through opening 42`wil1A depress or' opi-'f erate the disc and compress the'sp'ringwthereby admitting water to`vthe"charge' 26."` practice I relate the parts so that themdisc and springa're depressed' at a' depth of about' one` tol twoffeetj/ beneath the surface' of the water. 'If Adesiredal, water soluble seal may be'provided atl the'innerv` ena o'f the cartridge; For example. thek opening 42mayv be intiallyclos'ed orl sealed b'ya body f' of soluble sealing material'9q,'as shown in Fig. '7 of thedrawings. Seal 90 and closure 32 seal the cartridge so that mostureis positivelyexcludedw; fromthe charge in the cartridge,

y`The chargel 26 isa gas 'generating Ycharge suchV` as to, inflate the balloon 25. Thecharge is'zprevij-- "is opposite the portion 82 lof the body 20. It will bapparent from the drawings how Water mayi nd its way through the perforations 8| in thev erably one which is activated or which reacts with water to generate gas. In practice any suitable material that will generate gas when contacted with Water may be used. For example, I may employe calcium carbide or other suitable gas producing materials. The disc 66 serves to normally prevent Water reaching the charge and it also serves to prevent gas escaping from the balloonA 25. The valve thus formed is quick acting and responds quickly to pressure either inside or outside the balloon. In practice I may employ a disc hinged at one edge portion on a pivot pin 66a carried by the shell 40.

The means or construction 2l by which water is conducted to the cartridge may vary widely. However, in accordance with my preferred construction, when the cartridge fits snugly in the body/.as shownin the drawings, this means involves a channel construction in the body or is such that water passes through the body to reach the inner end o f the cartridge. In the particular case illustrated the grip or sleeve 22 is shown so' lthatv if it. were solid -or uninterrupted -it vwould coverthat portion of the body through which water is admitted as by perforations 34. The grip in this case is formed in two longitudinally separated sections Xv-and-Y, thespacebetween the sections forming a laterally extending channel to admit water from the exterior of the grip to-the body 20.- A band 80- is shown providedaround the grip supported. by and extendingrlbetween thesections X and Y of thegrip. The bandis..

X and Y of the lgrip 22 which portion of the bodyismpro'vided-with a plurality of perforationsor lateral passages'83- that pass water fromV the channel between the grip sections to the innerl end 'portion 33 -of thef cartridge. Whenthe cartridge is in place the inner end portion 33 thereof band 80, the perforatons 83 in-the bodyportion `"S3-to finally reach the sealing disc 90 or valve disc 6'6.- The various perforated parts establish a totous path througnwhrich water must pass in` reaching the inner end ofthe cartridge, al1 of which' is. desirable. during normal use of thev equipment and serves to check small amounts of water such as may be deposited by the hands of the user fromV reaching the sealing disc. Itis significant, however, that Vwhen the structure is submerged4 water quickly or immediatelyv reachesY the sealing disc, but the valve does not open until the device sinks to adepth where the pressure is sufcient to compress'the spring thereby opening thevalve. Whenthe soluble seal is used it may be of such body or of such material as to dissolve only when submerged a predetermined length ot timev and it may thus act to delayor retard action tained in the body 20 in which position it in no way'inconveniences the user and is concealed sof that it does not mar the appearance of the equip-1 nient. During normal use of the equipment the several perforated elements, as .above described.;

5.1i prevent moisturev that may get onthe equipment from reaching the sealing disc` In rtheevent that the equipment is dropped into a body of water the valve will open only if the water is deep enough' In practice I proportion the parts so that the valve admits suiicient waterto 'the shell toacti-v vate'the charge within' the' shellbefore it isagain closed. As pressure develops in the shell the valve disc 66 is seated against the opening confining the pressure to the balloon and preventing it from escaping through the openings'42 that admitted the water.

The cartridge 30 is normally disposable after use, and a replacement cartridge may then be positioned in the member 2l).v l

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modications that may appear to those Skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A device subject to being submerged in water including, a tubular body, a cartridge having a releasable closure and received in the body, means engaged with the body releasably retaining the cartridge in the body, a balloon normally deflated and retained in the cartridge by the closure and anchored directly to the cartridge, and a gas generating charge in the cartridge subject to being activated by water and in lcommunication with the balloon to deliver gas thereto and thereby iioat the device, said body being provided with lateral passages to admit water to the interior of the body upon the device being submerged in the water, said cartridge including a check valve adapted to allow the entry of water from within the body to the charge.

2. A device subject to being submerged in water including, a tubular body open at :one end, a cartridge carrying a tubular shell and having a releasable closure at its outer end and received in the body so the closure is at said open end of the body, a balloon for floating the device and normally retained in the cartridge by the closure and having a neck anchored to and in sealed engagement with the tubular shell of the cartridge and in communication with the shell, and a gas generating charge in the tubular shell in the cartridge subject to being activated'by water and delivering gas to the balloon through the tubular shell to inflate the balloon, said body being provided with lateral passages to admit water to the interior of the body upon the device being submerged in the water, said cartridge including a check valve adapted to allow the entry of water from within the body to the charge.

3. A device of the character describedfincluding, a tubular body open at one end, a hand grip surrounding the body, a cartridge carrying a tubular shell and having a releasable closure and received in the body fromrsaid end, means engagedwith the bodyand releasa-bly retaining the cartridge in the body so' it is normally fixed therein, a deflected balloon normally in thecartridge andhaving a neck sealed with. and 4an-y choredtosaid shelland in communication therewith-and ,a waterlnactivated gas generating charge inthe tubularshellin the-.cartridge de-v livering gas tothe vshell toL inflate the balloon andthereby iioat the device, said body having a channel Fand said grip passing water from the exterior-of the grip4 to thecharge to actuate it.

1 4. A device1of the character described including, atubular bodyhaving an enlarged perforate portion, acartridge carrying Ia tubular shell and carried in the body, -a balloon normally collapsedv andv carried inthe cartridge in communicationA portion of the body, and a grip on the body having a wall defining a water inlet opening to said portion of the body.

5. A device of the character described including, a tubular body having an enlarged perforate portion, a cartridge carried in the body carrying a tubular shell and having a perforate inner portion opposite said portion of the body, a balloon normally collapsed and carried in the cartridge in communication with the tubular shell, a water activated gas generating charge in the tubular shell in the cartridge to inate the balloon and thereby iioat the device, a water soluble seal protecting the charge in the tubular shell and accessible to water admitted through said portion of the body, and a grip on the body including sections separated by said portion of the body and a perforate band between the sections and flush with the exterior of the grip.

6. In combination, a pole, a reel seat attached to the pole, and a handle in connection with the reel seat and including, a tubular body having an enlarged perforate portion, and a cartridge carried in the body, thefcartridge including a balloon, a water activated gas generating charge delivering gas to inflate the balloon, and a Water soluble lseal protecting the charge and Vaccessible to water admitted through said portion of the body, and a grip on the body with a wall defining Ia water inlet passage to said portion of the body.

7. A device subject to being submerged in water including a tubular body provided with lateralpassages, a sleeve surrounding the body, a cartridge having a releasable closure and received the sleeve to the passages of the tubular body and into the charge through the inner end of the` cartridge, said cartridge including a check valve to permit water to pass into the cartridge to activate the charge.

8. A device subject to being submerged in water including a tubular body open at one end and provided with lateral passages, a sleeve surrounding the body, a cartridge'including a tubular shell and a releasable closure, said cartridge being Jfreceived in the bodyorvbe'within' the leevrz releasable means for retainingithe cartridge With.A irrtheJ-body, a. balloon normally collalpsedl and'l'eY tainedfin the cartridge bythe closureandLhav-ingi' a-fneck anchored -to and in sealed@engagement--r 51; with the .tubular shell lof* ffthesfcartridge '.fandtini' uid communication therewithr and aifwater 'ac tivatedfgas.generatinglcharge in-theV shell adapte" ed to release vgas `tothe balioonfthrough-thefshellry to'inate thevballoon 'to float? the device',:.,said 10. sleeve :having .lateral lpassagesito 'allowf'entr'ymtf: water* from 'the' f exterior of l'the "s1eeve'1to1the1pa'ssages of the "tubular fbodyv'and :into Vthe :charge through-'the 'inner endoi the` cartridge, said'cartridge including a check valve to .permitfwat'ep to115 pass'into -the cartridge to'activateftheichargeb FRANCIS 'VJBROADYE- Reumacitadffmuthe ille 'tof'fthis v patent:4 UNITED STTE'Sf-PA'I'ENTS Number- 

